In our ongoing series showing everyday life through the decades, we’ve already looked back at the vibrant, rich color photos of the 1950s and 1960s — often remembered through the eye-popping glow of Kodachrome film.
The 1970s, however, tell a slightly different visual story.
The Shift to Real Life in 1970s Family Photos
Cops, kids, and motorcycles at the parade. (Getty Images)
ALSO: 14 Classic ’70s Cars That Defined a Generation
Life in the ’70s was no less rich, but the photos feel more based in reality. Let’s just say it: Things got real in the 1970s. As hand-held cameras became more common and easy-to-use options like Kodak’s Instamatic took over family photography, family photos were less staged and definitely more honest. Not unlike movies at the time, family photos became a slice of real life that wasn’t always peachy.
Scenic overlook, 1970s-style. (Unsplash)
The photos from this decade show a time when a single salary could support a household with three kids, a dog named Tiger, a station wagon in the driveway, and a fenced-in backyard. They capture middle-class family road trips to familiar, well-loved destinations like Niagara Falls and theme parks. They also show everyday rituals: church services where neighbors gathered, holidays spent close to home, and families who often lived just a few towns — or streets — apart.
LOOK: Here’s What Daily Life Looked Like in the 1970s, One Photo at a Time
From neighborhood bike rides to washing the car, these photos capture daily life in the 1970s in all its comfortable, lived-in charm.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
LOOK: The Best Car Ads of the 1970s in One Nostalgic Gallery
From the Pinto to the Civic, get ready to relive the days of manual windows and two-door wagons as we flip through some of the most iconic car print ads from 1970s magazines.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
